Tiered Container

ABSTRACT

A tiered container having a specific arrangement as among the respective tiers facilitates the storage, display, and retrieval of products stored thereat. In a particular application, the container is adapted to store and display single-service vessels for brewed beverage grounds. The container may optionally be rotatable about a vertical axis.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers generally, and more particularly to a tiered container which facilitates storage, display, and retrieval of products stored thereat. In a particular aspect, the present invention relates to a multi-tiered basket container having a “carousel” operation for facilitating visibility of and access to stored products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers and display structures for products have been constructed with a wide variety of form and function. Certain types of containers are designed to simultaneously store and display products. Examples of such containers include shelves, crates, buckets, baskets, and the like which have an open or openable portion to access and remove product from the container. In many cases, however, the container is not optimized for each of product storage, display, and retrieval, wherein at least one of such characteristics are not well facilitated by the container.

One example class of products which is recently gaining popularity is small volume or single-service vessels for brewed beverage grounds, such as coffee grounds and cocoa bean grounds. Such low-volume or single service vessels contain a relatively small amount of beverage-making grounds for use in connection with single-service beverage machines. One aspect of the single-service beverage phenomenon is the ability to brew small portions of a desired flavor, so that multiple distinct users may select their preferred beverage flavor without having to produce a large batch of such beverage flavor. To facilitate a wide variety of user selection to beverage types and flavors, containers and display units have been constructed to store and display the individual vessels containing a relatively small volume or single-service amount of beverage flavor grounds.

An example container for the vessels described above is available from Keurig, Incorporated as a “Carousel” or “Carousel Tower”. Keurig, Inc. also offers stationary wire racks for display of the individual beverage flavoring vessels described above. Such containers, as well as other similar conventional containers, while being specifically designed to store and display the individual beverage flavor vessels, have certain drawbacks which limit their functionality and desirability in the marketplace. For example, such containers have limited storage capacity, and yet appear “depleted” when only a few of the vessels are removed from the container. Moreover, the stationary wire racks limit the potential for display and accessibility to the individual vessels.

In view of the above, therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container that is specifically designed to facilitate storage, display, and retrieval of products.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container that is specifically arranged to facilitate storage, display, and retrieval of multiple individual serving-sized vessels containing beverage flavoring grounds.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a tiered container specifically configured to enable storage, display, and access to products which are stored in a lower tier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By means of the present invention, products, such as individual serving-sized vessels of beverage flavoring grounds, may be efficiently stored, displayed, and retrieved, in a single container device, which further provides enhanced aesthetics in product display.

In one embodiment, the tiered container of the present invention includes a base and a spindly extending upwardly from the base along a first axis. The container further includes a first portion having a sidewall which extends substantially circumaxially upwardly from proximate to the base and about the first axis. The sidewall of the first portion terminates in an upper circumaxial boundary, at least a portion of which is spaced from the first axis by a first radial dimension. The tiered container also includes a second portion having a bottom plate section that is axially displaced upwardly from the first portion along the first axis so as to define an axial spacing between the upper circumaxial boundary and the bottom plate section by a first axial dimension of at least about 4 cm. The axial spacing permits access between the bottom plate section and the upper circumaxial boundary to a storage zone of the first portion. The bottom plate section of the second portion extends substantially circumaxially about the first axis to a second circumaxial boundary, at least a portion of which is spaced from the first axis by a second radial dimension that is at least about 3 cm less than the first radial dimension.

In another embodiment, the tiered container may include a base having a base cover and a base plate, wherein the base cover is rotatably coupled to the base plate for operable rotation about a first axis. The tiered container also includes a spindle which extends upwardly from the base along the first axis, and is secured to the base cover for rotation with the base cover about the first axis. In addition, the tiered container includes a first basket that is secured to at least one of the spindle and the base cover for rotation about the first axis. The first basket includes a first bottom and a first sidewall which extends substantially circumaxially upwardly from the first bottom and about the first axis. The first sidewall terminates in an upper circumaxial boundary that is spaced from the first axis by at least a first radial dimension. The tiered container further includes a second basket that is secured to the spindle for rotation about the first axis, wherein the second basket has a second bottom and a second sidewall extending substantially circumaxially upwardly from the second bottom and about the first axis. The second bottom is axially displaced upwardly from the first basket along the first axis so as to define an axial spacing between the upper circumaxial boundary and the second bottom by a first axial dimension of at least about 4 cm. The axial spacing permits access between the second bottom and the upper circumaxial boundary to a first storage zone defined by the first basket. The second bottom of the second basket extends substantially circumaxially about the first axis to a second circumaxial boundary that is spaced from the first axis by a second radial dimension that is at least about 3 cm less than the first radial dimension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tiered container of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the tiered container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tiered container illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the tiered container illustrated in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tiered container of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tiered container of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a side elevation view of a portion of a tiered container of the present invention, with further portions of the tiered container shown in phantom; and

FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of a portion of the tiered container illustrated in FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The objects and advantages enumerated above together with other objects, features, and advances represented by the present invention will now be presented in terms of detailed embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures which are intended to be representative of various possible configurations of the invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are recognized as being within the grasp of those having ordinary skill in the art.

For the purposes of this application, terms such as upper, lower, upward, above, below, horizontal, and vertical are intended to be relative to an overall device orientation, in which a rotational axis of the device is substantially vertically oriented with respect to a surface, such as a tabletop or the like. It is to be understood, therefore, that such terms, as used herein, are used in describing relative positions of elements of the device, and not absolute orientations regardless of the orientation of the device.

With reference now to the drawing figures, and first to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a tiered container 10 of the present invention includes a base 12 and a spindle 14 extending upwardly from base 12 along a first axis 16. Container 10 further includes a first portion 18 having a first sidewall 20 extending substantially circumaxially upward from proximate to base 12 and about first axis 16. Container 10 further includes a second portion 32 which has a bottom plate portion 34 that is axially displaced upwardly from first portion 18 along first axis 16.

A side elevation view of container 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2. In the illustrated embodiment, first portion 18 may be substantially configured as a basket with first sidewall 20 and base 12 together defining a first storage zone 22 in which various products may be stored, displayed, and/or retrieved. In a particular embodiment, first storage zone 22 is defined as the volume bounded by base 12, first sidewall 20, and below upper circumaxial boundary 24 of first portion 18. As will be described in greater detail hereinbelow, the basket configuration of first portion 18, and its position in relation to second portion 32, provides product display and retrieval characteristics not exhibited by conventional containers.

In one embodiment, first portion 18 is secured to at least one of spindle 14 and base 12. In the illustrated embodiment, first portion 18 is secured to base 12 through one or more of a variety of mechanisms, such as soldering, welding, adhesives, fasteners, and the like. In such a manner, first portion 18 may be secured in a first orientation relative to base 12. In other embodiments, first portion 18 includes a first bottom which is separate and distinct from base 12. The bottom of first portion 18 may be similar in construction to bottom plate portion 34 of second portion 32, and may be secured to one or more of spindle 14 and base 12. The bottom of first portion 18 may be secured to one or more of spindle 14 and base 12 through one or more conventional mechanisms, such as those described above. In one embodiment, the bottom of first portion 18 may be secured to spindle 14, and not to base 20, so as to be in a fixed orientation relative to spindle 14.

First portion 18 may be provided in a variety of configurations, with the illustrated embodiments being exemplary only. For instance, first portion 18, as illustrated, is formed with an “open wire” configuration including a plurality of circumaxial wires 19 a-19 d circumaxially disposed about first axis 16 (and spindle 14) in axially spaced relationship. Circumaxial wires 19 a-19 d may be supported by first portion support struts 21, which may be secured to circumaxial wires 19 a-19 d through, for example, soldering, welding, brazing, adhesives, and the like. Circumaxial wires 19 a-19 d and first portion support struts 21 may be fabricated from any desired material. In one embodiment, circumaxial wires 19 a-19 d and first portion support struts 21 are fabricated from powder coated steel wire having a gauge thickness of about 3-4 mm. Circumaxial wires 19 a-19 d and first portion support struts 21 may be fabricated from the same or different materials, and from the same or different sizes. A bottom of first portion 18 may be formed with additional circumaxial wires and/or cross-members coupled to, and extending across an area defined within, for example, circumaxial wire 19 a.

It is to be understood, however, that first portion 18 (and second portion 32) may be fabricated as desired per application. In the illustrated embodiment, first portion 18 (and second portion 32) are formed as “wire baskets” in a substantially conventional manner. However, first and second portions 18, 32 of container 10 may be fabricated with, for example, sold or partially solid surfaces making up the bottom portions or sidewall portions of first and second portions 18, 32. In one aspect of the present invention, at least first portion 18 defines first storage zone 22 as a volume in which desired products may be stored, displayed, and retrieved. To that end, first portion 18 is desirably constructed to operably retain such products in first storage zone 22 as long as needed. Consequently, relative spacing between, for example, adjacent circumaxial wires 19 a, 19 b, etc., is preferably smaller than the minimum size dimension of the products to be stored thereat to prevent undesired leakage of products out from first portion 18. In one embodiment, for example, spacing between adjacent circumaxial wires 19 a-d may be less than about 3 cm. Moreover, first portion 18 (and optionally second portion 32) may possess no opening within first storage zone 22 that is larger than a minimum cross-sectional dimension of the products to be stored thereat. In one embodiment, such maximum spacing in first portion 18 is about 3 cm.

In one embodiment, first sidewall 20 of first portion 18 extends circumaxially upwardly from proximate to base 12 at an angled inclination relative to horizontal. In the illustrated embodiment, “horizontal” may be defined as a surface 8 upon which container 10 is placed. First sidewall 20 may extend upwardly at an angle “α₁” of between about 40-70° from horizontal. Applicants have determined that such an upwardly angled inclination for first sidewall 20 provides an advantageous product storage, display, and retrieval utility to first portion 18. While Applicants contemplate a variety of sizes and shapes for first portion 18, height dimension “h₁” may be between about 5-10 cm, and a first radial dimension “r₁”, as measured between first axis 16 and first circumaxial boundary 24, may be between about 3-10 cm.

In some embodiments, only a portion of first circumaxial boundary 24 is spaced from first axis 16 by first radial dimension “r₁”. In such embodiments, first circumaxial 24 may be formed in a variety of configurations, including oval, square, rectangle, or other regular and irregular shapes. In the illustrated embodiment, first circumaxial boundary 24 substantially defines a circle, wherein an entirety of first axial dimension “r₁” is substantially equal throughout a circumference thereof.

Second portion 32 may be provided in a variety of configurations suitable for the desired application. In one embodiment, second portion 32 is provided in a basket configuration with a second sidewall 36 extending substantially circumaxially upwardly from bottom plate portion 34 and about first axis 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the basket configuration of second portion 32 may be substantially similar to the basket configuration of first portion 18. In another embodiment, second portion 32 may be substantially identical to first portion 18. In the illustrated embodiment, second sidewall 36 has an upward inclination angle “α₂” of between about 40-70° from horizontal.

In the illustrated embodiment, second portion 32 is substantially similar to first portion 18, wherein a series of circumaxial wires 39 a-d are secured in a desired orientation by support struts 41, and are separated by a desired separation distance “x” of, for example, less than about 3 cm. As described above with reference to first portion 18, however, it is contemplated by the present invention that second portion 32 may be provided in a variety of configurations and constructions, including various materials, sizes, and shapes.

In one aspect of the present invention, bottom plate portion 34, which may also be referred to second bottom 34 of second portion 32, is axially displaced upwardly from first portion 18 along first axis 16 so as to define an axial spacing “y” between first circumaxial boundary 24 and second bottom 34 by a first axial dimension. Such axial spacing dimension “y” may, in some embodiments, be at least about 4 cm. In some embodiments, Applicant has determined that a desired first axial dimension “y” is between about 5-7 cm. Such axial spacing may permit access between second bottom 34 and first circumaxial boundary 24 to first storage zone 22 of first portion 18.

In addition to first axial spacing dimension “y” described above, second bottom 34 of second portion 32 extends substantially circumaxially about first axis 16 to a second circumaxial boundary 38. In some embodiments, at least a portion of second circumaxial boundary 38 is spaced from first axis 16 by a second radial dimension “r₂” that is smaller than first radial dimension “r₁”. Second radial dimensions “r₂” may be at least about 3 cm less than first radial dimension “r₁”. In some embodiments, second radial dimension “r₂” may be between 3-5 cm smaller than first radial dimension “r₁”.

Applicant has determined that a tiered container having the spatial relationships between first and second portions 18, 32, as described above, provide desired characteristics of product storage, display, and retrieval. For example, a first axial spacing dimension “y” of at least about 4 cm, and in some embodiments between about 5-7 cm, in combination with a differential radial dimension “r₃” of at least about 3 cm, and in some embodiments between about 3-5 cm, establishes a desired configuration for a tiered container. Such a configuration, for example, has been determined by the Applicant to desirably display product in first storage zone 22, and to further facilitate retrieval of product therefrom. In particular, the access area between first and second portions 18, 32 defined by the axial displacement and radial differential dimensions described above is sufficient for comfortable insertion and withdrawal of a human hand into first storage zone 22. Moreover, the relative dimensions described above provide an aesthetic tiered container that Applicant has found to be advantageous in storing and displaying products, such as single-service sized vessels of beverage flavoring grounds.

It is to be understood, of course, that container 10 may include more than two portions, including more than two portions circumaxailly arranged around first axis 16. In one example embodiment, therefore, a third portion (not shown) may be circumaxially arranged about first axis 16, and axially displaced above second portion 32 in a relative spacing arrangement similar to that described above with respect to first and second portions 18, 32.

In some embodiments of the present invention, base 12 includes a base cover 52 and a base plate 54. A bottom view of container 10 illustrating base plate 54 is provided in FIG. 4. Base cover 52 may be rotatably coupled to base plate 54 for operable rotation about first axis 16. In this arrangement, base plate 54 may be positioned upon, for example, surface 8 and held in a stationary condition through frictional forces developed between base plate 54 and surface 8. A rotational coupling between base cover 52 and base plate 54 facilitates operable rotation of base cover 52 about first axis 16 with respect to base plate 54.

The rotational coupling between base cover 52 and base plate 54 may be accomplished through a variety of mechanisms. In one example, a ball bearing device (not shown) may be secured between a lower surface 53 of base cover 52 and base plate 54. Rotatable base arrangements are well understood in the art of containers, including those containers described above with reference to Keurig, Inc.

In some embodiments, spindle 14 may be secured to base cover 52, such that spindle 14 operably rotates with base cover 52 about first axis 16 with respect to base plate 54. Securement of spindle 14 to base cover 52 may be accomplished by a variety of mechanisms, including soldering, welding, adhesives, fasteners, and the like. In one aspect of the present invention, a handle 62 may be integrally formed with, or separately secured to spindle 14. Handle 62 facilitates rotatable manipulation of spindle 14 which, in turn, causes rotation of base plate 52, first portion 18, and second portion 32 together about first axis 16. In such a manner, manipulation of spindle 14 to cause rotation thereof with respect to base plate 54 provides a “carousel” characteristic to container 10, wherein a user may readily view any portion of container 10 (including the products stored and displayed thereat). Such a rotational capability, therefore, further enhances the product display characteristics of container 10 of the present invention.

A further container embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein container 110 is substantially similar to container 10, with the exception of base 112. In this embodiment, base 112 has a substantially square profile, as distinguished from the substantially circular profile of base 12. In all other aspects, however, container 110 is substantially similar to container 10 described hereinabove.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein container 210 includes first and second portions 218, 232 substantially as described above with reference to first and second portions 18, 32 of container 10. As illustrated in FIG. 6, however, container 210 is suspended from a suspension bracket 270, which may be secured in conventional fashion to a surface or structure below which container 210 is desirably positioned. First and second portions 218, 232 are preferably secured to spindle 214 in a similar fashion as that described above with reference to container 10.

In some embodiments, spindle 214 may be rotatably secured to suspension bracket 270 about first axis 216 through conventional techniques. In some embodiments, therefore, first and/or second portions 218, 232 may be rotatable with spindle 214 about first axis 216.

The present invention further contemplates a divider 92 for optionally dividing first and second storage zones 22, 42 into multiple distinct compartments. An example divider 92 is illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B. In such example embodiment, divider 92 may be a separate structure which is selectively placeable in a desired orientation in, for example, second portion 32 of container 10. Of course, divider 92 may instead be placed in first portion 18, and the present invention contemplates the use of one or more dividers 92 with container 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, divider 92 may be of a wire construction with individual members 94A, 94B being secured to one another through, for example, welding, soldering, adhesives, fasteners, or the like. The present invention, however, contemplates a variety of constructions and configurations for divider 92, with its primary purpose being to at least partially divide a respective storage zone 22, 42 into a plurality of at least partially distinct compartments. In such a manner, products may be organized within the various compartments in first and second storage zones 22, 42, including by storing different products at different compartments at least partially separated by divider 92.

The illustrated embodiment of divider 92 substantially divides a respective storage zone 22, 42 into two compartments by extending substantially along a diameter of a respective first and/or second portion 18, 32, as viewed from above. Divider 92 may further be arranged to engage with a respective first or second portion 18, 32, as illustrated at FIG. 7B. In this embodiment, a hook portion 96 of divider 92 may engage with a respective support strut 21, 41 of first or second portion 18, 32 as applicable. Divider 92 may include hook portions 96 at engaging end sections 98 thereof. Applicants contemplate, however, a variety of techniques and structural configurations for engaging divider 92 with a respective first or second portion 18, 32 in order to support divider 92 in a desired orientation within first or second storage zones 22, 42.

The following examples are provided for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention. In particular, the dimensions described in the following examples refer only to specific embodiments of the invention, and should be understood to be modifiable while remaining within the scope of the present invention.

Example 1

A two-tiered container was constructed with powder-coated steel in the form of vertically aligned open wire baskets. The wire baskets were formed with powder-coated steel wires having a gauge thickness of about 4 mm and a maximum spacing dimension “x” of 2.5 cm. The two-tiered container had the following dimensions:

Dimension Name Dimension (centimeters) h₁ 7.6 y 5.8 h₂ 7.6 r₁ 12.4 r₂ 7.6 r₃ 4.8 r₄ 12.4 α₁ 58° α₂ 58°

Example 2

A two-tiered container was constructed with powder-coated steel in the form of vertically aligned open wire baskets. The wire baskets were formed with powder-coated steel wires having a gauge thickness of about 4 mm and a maximum spacing dimension “x” of 2.2 cm. The two-tiered container had the following dimensions:

Dimension Name Dimension (centimeters) h₁ 6.7 y 5.8 h₂ 6.7 r₁ 10.5 r₂ 6.0 r₃ 4.5 r₄ 10.5 α₁ 54° α₂ 54°

The invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with patent statutes, and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the invention as required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by different devices and that various modifications may be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself. 

1. A tiered container, comprising: a base having a base cover and a base plate, said base cover being rotatably coupled to said base plate for operable rotation about a first axis; a spindle extending upwardly from said base along said first axis, said spindle being secured to said base cover for rotation with said base cover about said first axis; a first basket secured to at least one of said spindle and said base cover for rotation about said first axis, said first basket having a first bottom and a first sidewall extending substantially circumaxially upwardly from said first bottom and about said first axis, said first sidewall terminating in an upper circumaxial boundary that is spaced from said first axis by at least a first radial dimension; a second basket secured to said spindle for rotation about said first axis, said second basket having a second bottom and a second sidewall extending substantially circumaxially upwardly from said second bottom and about said first axis, said second bottom being axially displaced upwardly from said first basket along said first axis so as to define an axial spacing between said upper circumaxial boundary and said second bottom by a first axial direction of at least about 4 cm, said axial spacing permitting access between said second bottom and said upper circumaxial boundary to a first storage zone defined by said first basket, said second bottom of said second basket extending substantially circumaxially about said first axis to a second circumaxial boundary which is spaced from said first axis by a second radial dimension that is at least about 3 cm less than said first radial dimension.
 2. A tiered container as in claim 1 wherein said upper circumaxial boundary defines a circle.
 3. A tiered container as in claim 1 wherein said first sidewall is angled about 40-70° upwardly from horizontal.
 4. A tiered container as in claim 1 wherein said second sidewall is angled about 40-70° upwardly from horizontal.
 5. A tiered container as in claim 1 wherein said first axial dimension is between about 5-7 cm.
 6. A tiered container as in claim 1 wherein said second radial dimension is about 3-5 cm less than said first radial dimension.
 7. A tiered container, comprising: a base; a spindle extending upwardly from said base along a first axis; a first portion having a sidewall extending substantially circumaxially upwardly from proximate to said base and about said first axis, said sidewall terminating in an upper circumaxial boundary, at least a portion of which is spaced from said first axis from a first radial dimension; and a second portion having a bottom plate section that is axially displaced upwardly from said first portion along said first axis so as to define an axial spacing between said upper circumaxial boundary and said bottom plate section by a first axial dimension of at least 4 cm, said axial spacing permitting access between said bottom plate section and said upper circumaxial boundary to a first storage zone of said first portion, said bottom plate section of said second portion extending substantially circumaxially about said first axis to a second circumaxial boundary, at least a portion of which is spaced from said first axis from a second radial dimension that is at least about 3 cm less than the first radial dimension.
 8. A tiered container as in claim 7 wherein an entirety of said upper circumaxial boundary is spaced from said first axis by at least said first radial dimension.
 9. A tiered container as in claim 8 wherein said upper circumaxial boundary defines a circle.
 10. A tiered container as in claim 7 wherein said sidewall of said first portion is angled about 40-70° upwardly from horizontally.
 11. A tiered container as in claim 7, including a second sidewall extending substantially circumaxially upwardly from said bottom plate section of said second portion about said first axis.
 12. A tiered container as in claim 11 wherein said second sidewall is angled about 40-70° upwardly from horizontal.
 13. A tiered container as in claim 7 wherein said first axial dimension is between about 5-7 cm.
 14. A tiered container as in claim 7 wherein said second radial dimension is about 3-5 cm less than said first radial dimension.
 15. A tiered container as in claim 7 wherein said base and said second portion are secured to said spindle.
 16. A tiered container as in claim 15 wherein said base includes a base cover and a base plate, said base cover being rotatably coupled to said base plate for operable rotation about said first axis. 